Total Ankle Arthroplasty

* Total ankle arthroplasty has become an accepted alternative to ankle arthrodesis for end-stage ankle arthritis, with usage increasing considerably over the past decade. * Recent publications have shown good early to intermediate-term outcomes and high patient satisfaction. Patients with large coronal plane deformities may also undergo total ankle arthroplasty with good outcomes, although additional procedures are often required. * Complications include wound-healing problems, gutter impingement, osteolysis, and heterotopic ossification. Revision rates of modern implants range from 4% to 8% at 5 years. * Compared with ankle arthrodesis, total ankle arthroplasty allows for a more physiologic gait. However, its potential to preserve function in the long term relative to ankle arthrodesis remains unproven. More high-quality studies with long-term follow-up are required to better clarify the benefits of modern total ankle arthroplasty.